I thought he was fantastic yesterday. Not only was he winning everything in the air and getting distance and direction on his clearances, he was putting in some well timed challenges. Him and Williams looked like cart horses at the start of the season but are now our two best defenders for me.
I thought Roberts looked excellent in the first two home matches of the season, but then started to go downhill quite quickly. I reckon a lot of it was to do with the daft system we were using.
I think it was just a lack of experience at this level. He'd got some attributes that were up to League 1 standard and probably way above (his ability to win the ball in the air and clear it), but others like his distribution and his ability to deal with an opposition attacker who was running at him with the ball needed work. We bought a player with potential, not the finished article. His weaknesses began to get exposed, so we took him out of the firing line and worked with him on the training ground. He's come back a much better player. I think we've handled him superbly.
Fully agree. He's looking superb and, if he continues to develop, will be easily Championship top end.
Would agree with that, I definitely think that his inexperience played a huge part, but from what I could piece together from highlights and talking to people, in employing 4-5-1 we seemed to be failing to attack with very much purpose, or indeed even keep the ball particularly effectively for any length of time, which obviously invited pressure back on to us - at least that's how it looked from afar. Mawson as well went through a proper dip in form after a promising start, only to come through it a better player. Back to Roberts though, he reminds me of my early days watching us, when we seemed to have a conveyer belt of classy centre halves either coming through the ranks or canny signings. Tiler, Taggart, Smith, Shotton, Moses, De Zeeuwe, Futcher. We've had the pleasure of watching some really excellent central defenders over the years, and I really hope Roberts stays with us for long enough to be held in the same esteem as those I've mentioned.
I think you're analysis is spot on John. We were playing a system that didn't suit the players it put the defence under a lot of pressure and did have an impact on both Mawson and Roberts but they have both come out of the other side much improved. The quality of our defenders over the 80s and 90s was pretty astounding looking back you missed off Paul McGugan though...I can see Roberts being around for a fair bit and developing into a real leader of the team.
I think the club has handled our two defenders brought in from non league football quite well. Hopefully, we might see similar positive contributions from our forward players brought to the club from the same (Harry White, Ash, Tuton) next season.
Been my MotM or thereabouts on many occasion this season, can only recall a few very poor performances, he is in the running for my player of the season.
McGugan was also an excellent player - just a pity his career with us was cut short by such a nasty injury. I suppose Chris Morgan should be on that list as well, but.....
He,ll be around in football a long time but not here cos we,ll sell him when someone comes in with a decent fee.I can see him going a long way cos not only his he brilliant in the air but he,s got real pace not all central defenders have.